Boulder, CO

The Denver Post once described Boulder as "the little town nestled between the mountains and reality." Shadowed by the towering Flatirons and surrounded by more than 31,000 acres of recreational open space and nature preserves, Boulder is 28 square miles of outdoor heaven. Named after the mammoth rocks scattered across the terrain, Boulder brims with big city sophistication, college town intelligence, and environmental sensibilities.

Downtown

Boulder's historic civic center serves as a gathering place for the entire city. Anchored by Pearl Street, a vibrant thoroughfare boasting a magnificent four-block pedestrian mall, the Pearl Street Mall, the downtown area brims with tourists, but is also a lively haven for the eclectic locals. The tree-lined promenade, long ago a refuge for the wildest of the wild westerners, is alive with cafes, galleries, brewpubs, restaurants and every type of shopping imaginable.

If high culture is on the agenda, then browse around at one of the galleries brightening downtown, including the popular Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. You can also check out the Dairy Centre for the Arts for productions by local theater and dance troupes, or a graceful performance from the Boulder Ballet.

The Boulder County Farmers Market adds a bit of flavor from April to October and offers everything from organic veggies and local wines to famous homegrown cantaloupe. Boulder Creek Path, crowded with bikers, in-line enthusiasts, walkers and wanderers, also meanders though downtown. Along the way, the trail passes the Underwater Fish Observatory, Central Park, City Hall, and the Heartling Sculpture Park before winding into Boulder Canyon towards the mountain town of Nederland.

The big box retail chains, strip malls, fast food fry pits (even Boulder has them), occupy a long stretch of 28th Street, just a bit south of the city center. The area is great for last minute stops before heading to the mountains. This strip is also the place in town to find a movie theater.

University Hill

Known as "The Hill" by locals, the neighborhood is the home of the University of Colorado. Literally parked on a hilltop above downtown, the district provides the typical college town quirkiness and a host of popular attractions including the Heritage Center and the Sommers Bausch Observatory.

Spread across more than 600 acres of rolling landscape, University of Colorado is a feat of architectural beauty with old stone buildings topped with red Spanish tiled rooftops. Just moseying about the campus creates a sense of wonder, especially while moving through tree-lined passageways, or gazing into the serene depths of Varsity Pond. Catch a CU football game at Folsom Field. For an abstract pulse of the student body visit the CU Art Galleries (currently closed until Fall 2009) which displays contemporary work by revered artists as well as students. Try to see Foucault's Pendulum make a move or stargaze at the Fiske Planetarium.

The Hill

After checking out the University of Colorado, head over to The Hill's entertainment district. The area's bars and restaurants fill with students searching for pizza and cold beer. Neo-hippies wander the streets and the coffee shop crowd finds hot beverage solace in one of the many quaint cafes. The area can get a little rowdy, especially after Buff games and long nights of drinking.

The residential neighborhood bordering The Hill is an odd mix of fraternity and sorority houses, apartment complexes, rental houses and attractive single-family homes. The streets are usually bustling with activity well into the night.

Chautauqua Park rests at the base of Flagstaff Mountain on the southwest side of University Hill. The park, one of three remaining from the early 1900s cultural movement, features a dining hall and an outdoor auditorium that hosts an excellent summer concert series.

Table Mesa

Boulder contains a wealth of pocket residential communities peppered with parks and open space. Martin Park, on the south side of town, is a step into 1950s tract housing. Table Mesa, nestled in the western foothills, is home to the National Center for Atmospheric Research and miles of easy nature trails.

Gunbarrel

Most of Boulder's big business sectors reside on the fringes of the city. Gunbarrel, on the eastern edge of town, is home to IBM and Celestial Seasonings. Boulder's small southern neighbor, Louisville, is home to Storage Tek. Broomfield, nine miles south of Boulder, recently opened the posh Interlocken Business Park and Resort and is attracting national attention as a hot relocation spot.

Eldorado Springs

If you are searching for an otherworldly experience all together, take a day and visit one of the area's mountain towns. Eldorado Springs, where the world comes to rock climb, was once a hangout for the well-to-do including Damon Runyon and President Eisenhower. Now, it is a quaint commuter community of about 900 residents. Nederland, home to Eldora Mountain Resort, is a tourist-oriented former gold claim that still possesses a bit of the anti-establishment mountain attitude.